Ever been to one of those parties -- think back to some kid's Bar Mitzvah, or maybe it's someone's awkward, overheated wedding, and sometimes someone's dancing just looks a little bit dangerous? There's a sweaty 13-year-old kid getting SERIOUS with his plastic party favor hula hoop, and you wanna give him a good ten-foot radius. At LEAST.

Finally there's a game for that kid -- and everyone out there who wanted to just knock him through the ice sculpture. Atlus has just announced Draglade for the DS, and it's not just rhythm-action -- it's rhythm fighting. In Draglade, proponents of a combat sport called "Grapping" rock out to the beats created when their matter-into-energy weapons clash against one another. At least, I think I get it; from the release:

In the world of Draglade, Grapping has become the world's premier spectator sport. Scientists will discover how to turn atmospheric Matter into energy. Soon thereafter, a means of harnessing this energy – G-Cons – will allow for the conversion of this power into a weapon called a “Glade”. When a Glade hits something, the Glade emits a sound. Fighters and entertainers quickly realized the potential of Grapping, as the music generated by the clashing Glades in combat provided an experience that couldn't be matched in any other sport. In this world overcome by Grapping fever, four young indie Grappers – Hibito, Guy, Kyle, and Daichi – will strive to reach the ranks of the Major Grappers.

Sounds like it could be pretty rad, eh? I'm sure GLADE I heard about it. LOLOLOL!

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA — JULY 10th, 2007 — Atlus U.S.A., Inc., a leading publisher of interactive entertainment, today announced Draglade, a new rhythm fighting game for the Nintendo DS™!In Draglade, it’s not just about how hard you hit or fast you move, it's also how well you can groove. An innovative mix of music and fighting means you will have to use your rhythm as well as your reflexes if you want to overcome your foes and show everyone that you’re a Draglade master!Draglade has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

About Draglade:In the world of Draglade, Grapping has become the world's premier spectator sport. Scientists will discover how to turn atmospheric Matter into energy. Soon thereafter, a means of harnessing this energy – G-Cons – will allow for the conversion of this power into a weapon called a “Glade”. When a Glade hits something, the Glade emits a sound. Fighters and entertainers quickly realized the potential of Grapping, as the music generated by the clashing Glades in combat provided an experience that couldn't be matched in any other sport. In this world overcome by Grapping fever, four young indie Grappers – Hibito, Guy, Kyle, and Daichi – will strive to reach the ranks of the Major Grappers.

Key Features• A creative mix of fighting and music! Intuitive controls allow players of all ages and skills to get into the game, while a vast assortment of customizable fighting techniques and devastating combinations allow for advanced fighting tactics. Use Beat Combos to create a powerful melody!• Unlockable Extras! Discover additional characters and special techniques - there are plenty of things to collect! Each character will have their own unique weapons and attributes.• Customizable characters! Mix and match moves to tailor your fighter to your preferences, and expand your arsenal of abilities by trading skills with a friend!• Local and Nintendo WFC multiplayer! Play against players across the nation in a one-on-one test of skills, or connect locally with a friend and take on cooperative quests!

I'm a game writer, which means I spend all day in a bacchanal of fabulous nerdiness. My fave games are Ys I & II, Phantasy Star 2 (!!) old Sonic (not the emo RPG crap), anything on Turbo Grafx, Z... more + disclosures

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